St. Catherine's Church, Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia

Wealthy families of mining entrepreneurs, owners of the houses located on the main Holy Trinity Square were the most probable investors in the St. Catherine's Church.

The church is located on the quite steep slope of the brink on the lower part of Holy Trinity Square at the intersection of the main roads of Banska Stiavnica.

It has a dominant location directly in the city center, at the crossroads of two most significant medieval roads; nowadays there is a conjunction of Holy Trinity Square and Andrej Kmet street.

There is a painted town blazon above the portal with the year 1555 (when the church was turned into parish).

In the last quarter of the 18th century the Baroque chapel of St. John of Nepomucene was added to the church.

Its pastel violet colour sets the chapel off like a little jewel against the monumental grey walls of the church.

Finely worked out details of portals, figural cantilevers and especially rich decorated baptistery.

The lower part is separated into 4 sections filled with stained glass with Christian scenes.

In the space defined by the vault ribs, the appearance of the Christ repeats, here he is sitting on the rainbow with legs laid on the globe.

Under the painting the sorting of the souls is shown with the main character of Archangel Michael who is fighting against the Devil.

On the left side, there are saviored people walking towards the Heaven gates, accompanied by an angelic chorus.

On the right side, a crowd of people driven by devils, walking most likely into the Leviatan stomach is shown.

Along with the altar, the painting of St. Catherine's betrothal with Christ has been preserved until today, which is attributed to painter J.G.